The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-17
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER xvIII.-CoxrrSUED.

Inc DoatSWaln returned quickly, 1ol
lowed by the steward. 1 surrendered
the wheel to the former, and taking tn
brandy, succeeded in introducing some
into her mouth. By dint of this, anC
chafing her hands and moistening hSI
forehead, 1 restored her to conscious
ness. then, with nay arm supporting
her. helped her into the cuddy: but dis
not stay an instant after this, for therj
was plenty of work to be done on deck
and though we had escaped one peril
yet here we might be running head
long into another, for the ship was un.
der full sail; we had but three men to
work her, not counting Cornish oi
whose willingness or capacity to work
after his rough handling as yet knew
nothing. The glass stood low, and il
n gale should spring up and catch US as
we were, it was fifty to one if the ship
did not go TO the bottom.
We decided to shorten sail at once;
the steward was instructed to take the
helm, although he protested he knew
nothing about steering. he was given
some simple directions, and we left him
IN the attitude of a cOckney clinging to
the wheel for dear life.
CorRish lay al this time like bun
die against the rail. When be saw US
he begged that we would either loose
the rope with which he was bound or
kill him. He said he was being cut in
halves, and it was plainly to be seen
that he was suffering terrible agony.
Wa lr,rlI 4 IL I,
services and had decided to avail our
selves of them. But before releasing
him we pretended 70 reflects and to'dis-
cuss the matter very gravely. Finally
we told him we had decided to give
him a trial and warned him that at the
first symptom of treachery on his part
he would be shot down IKE a dog "a
He was speedily liberated and ex-
pressed his thanks in the warmest
terms.
The next thing we undertook was to
get the port quarter-boat on board, to
replace the one which hAl~been- stove.
by the carpenter. This only occupied
a few minutes, and we soon had it
under the davits with both falls
hooked. 1t was full Of provisions and
water, too precious for US to lose.
The body of one of the dead mutineers
remained i'll it but wits promptly
thrown overheard by the boatswain.
AS we finished this job, Miss Robert
son came from her cabin and insisted
upon resuming her place at the wheel.
The steward resigned the responsible
place with alacrity.
asked Cornish if he was able to
work aloft and he assured me that he
was. As the glass was very low We
addressed ourselves at once to taking
in sail.
I'VE shall be ableVto get the sails off
her, said the boatswain, land the iib
and staysailS, but don't know how
were going to furl the main.sail, and
it'H take us all night to reef the top
sails
I'VE must work all night" I an
swered, ''anj do what we can. just
tell me, while pass this gasket, how
You managed in the hold. .
why" he answered, ''you know l
took kind o crow-bar down with
me, and | reckoned on spiittin' open
the head of the fust chap as should
drop through the fore-scuttle. Bat.
-Gi AliA II WI Al III lAllllis L l1lOhE,llI
it 'ud be dangerous to Kill the felier. rs
his mates might take it into their heads
TO wait for him. And so | determined
TO hide myself when ! heerd the cove
comm, and stand Ivy to plug up the
holes artcr he WIZ gone"
Here lie discharged some tobacco
Juice from his mouth, and dried his
lips on the sail.
-'YFerry wei; [ had my knife with
me an a box o. matches, and VERY
useful they wos. ! made bit of 4
flare by combing out Il strand of yarns
and settin fire to it, ard found wOt
was more pleasin' to my eye than had
i come across a tve-pun note-I mean
Il spare broomstick, which | found
knocking about in the coal-hole; and |
cut it up in pieces and pointed 'em
ready to Sarve. | knew whoever 'ud
come would use an auger. and know d
the size hole it 'uG cut; and by and by
but the Lord knows how long it were
afore it happened-I hears some one
drop down the forescuttle and strike a
match and light \ bit o candte-end.
got behind the buikhead, where there
was plank out, and | see the carpen-
ter wurking away with his augcr, blow
in and sweatinh like any respectable
hartizan earnin' of honest wages. By
and by the water comes ruShin' in;
and then he bores another hole and the
water comes through that; and then
he boreS another hole, arter which he
blows out MS candle and goes away,
.scramblin' up on the deck. My fingers
qUivered to give him one for hisself
with the end o my crowbar over the
back of his head. However, no sooner
did he clear out than | struck match,
fits in the bits of broomStick, and stops
the leaks As neatly as he made 'em.
thought they'd hear me irivin' them !
plugs in, and that was all was afraid
of. But the ships none the worse for
them holes. She's aS tight as ever she
wos; an / reckon if she gets no more
water in her than II come through them
plugs. she won't be in hurry to sink"
Il laughed as VIC shook hands heartily. |
CHAPTER NIX.
Cornish had slowed the mizzen-
royal by the time we had reached the |
deck. and when he lcined Us we
ciewed up the foretop-gall,,nt sail, so !
Sidt We tlAlSh HsilO ludL SAX WHICH he /
had done with the royal.
| found this man quite civil and very |
willing, and III my opinion he spoke |
honestly when he declared that he had |
rather be with Us than in the long |
boat.
When we reached the deck we were |
rather scant of breath. But, as it |
threatened to blow gale, it was ad-
YiSable that we do all we could toward |